FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT TABLE GAMES - PAGE 5

When it comes to the hot-button issue of gambling, it's usually a safe bet that the Legislature doesn't do anything too bold or controversial in a big election year. But the early talk from Tallahassee this year has been different. In a rather swift reversal, Republican legislative leaders have indicated they might be open to allowing full-fledged Las Vegas-style resort casinos in South Florida. The proposal being floated would allow one resort casino in Broward, another in Miami-Dade.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida spoke out Thursday against allowing "destination casinos" in South Florida, asking the state instead to stick to an agreement it made with the tribe last year. "We will vigorously fight against any attack on our compact with the state," tribe chairman James Billie said in a statement. "We urge Florida legislators to step forward in support of our compact and refuse to pass any legislation that violates contractual agreements with the Seminole Tribe. " Billie's comments reflected a realization that the tribe's five-year, $1-billion gambling "compact" with the state is coming under increasing assault by both legislators and would-be gambling competitors.

In the short term, not much will change if a revised Seminole gambling compact is announced Monday, the Legislature's deadline for a deal. There still will be blackjack and other table games running in Hollywood at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which markets itself as "South Florida's Only Real Casino." There still won't be blackjack, loosened poker-room restrictions or lower slot machine taxes at the three local pari-mutuel casinos. And there still won't be any certainty that this agreement between the tribe and governor - whatever it looks like - is actually a done deal.